Wire drawing machine



Feb. 20, 1951 w. MORGAN ETAI.

WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Filed Dec. l23, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WN QN. WN mwN WN Feb. 20, 1951 w. MORGAN ETAI. 2,542,257

WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 25, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T o/IWE Y Feb. 20, 1951 w. MORGAN ETAL WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 25, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNEY Feb. 20, 1951 w. MORGAN ETAL 2,542,257

WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 25, 1946 5 sheets-sheet 4 II I@ F 7 68 IN1 'ENToRs L WELD MORQA/v By C 11R/r' D. WEJJo/v A T TURA/Y Feb. 20, 1951 w. MORGAN ET AL WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 -0'- DENGAGED Figi? INVENTOR Wmo MOFGAM/ BY 6 WPA/5 D. K11/6.55am

ATTQHAMV Patented F eb. 20, 1951 WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Weld Morgan and Clarke D. Wesson, Worcester,

Mass., assignors to Morgan Construction Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts.

Application December 23, 1946, Serial No. 717,978

9 Claims.

This invention relates to wire-drawing machines, and more particularly to machines of the continuous type having a plurality of rotatable blocks or drums for drawing wire successively through a series of dies.

It is one obiect of the invention to provide a continuous wire-drawing machine having an improved means for guiding the wire from each block to the following die, the construction being comparatively light, rigid and inexpensive.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a continuous wire-drawing machine having an improved construction whereby the mechanism which supports and drives the blocks is adquately lubricated and protected against damage from dust and dirt.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a continuous wire-drawing machine having a series of hollow air-cooled blocks, together with a simple and eicient means for conducting air under pressure to the interiors of the blocks.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a continuous wire-drawing machine of the aircooled type having a new and highly compact arrangement of air supply means in conjunction with the motor which drives the blocks.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a continuous wire-drawing machine having a hollow frame or casing which may be readily constructed primarily from steel plates Welded together.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a continuous wiredrawing machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the machine;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in section taken approximately on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on a reduced scale taken on the line 8 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in section taken approximately on the line '|-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line lil-I0 of Fig. 8.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a horizontally elongated hollow rectangular frame or casing |5 having a front wall |6, a rear Wall a left end wall |8, a right end Wall I9, a bottom wall 20 and a top wall 2|. These walls may be formed of steel plates, and except for the top wall they may be connected to one another by welding. The top wall 2l is releasably fastened to the remainder of the frame structure by screws or other suitable means. I

.A series of intermediate blocks 23 and a finishing block 24 are arranged in a longitudinal row above the top wall 2|, all of these blocks being rotatable about vertical axes. A die box 25 is associated with the rst block 23, and a die box 26 is associated with each of the other blocks 23 and with the iinishing block 24. It will be understood that in known manner each die box supports a die through which wire is drawn by the corresponding block. The die boxes are mounted on the top plate 2|, near the front edge thereof, and each of the die boxes 26 is provided with an idler sheave 28 to guide the wire in the proper direction as it approaches the die. The nishing block 24 carries a group of upright pins 29 to support a bundle of finished wire.

The intermediate blocks 23 are arranged to support coils of accumulated wire from which wire is withdrawn upwardly in a generally axial direction and then guided to the following die. For this purpose each block 23 is provided with a group of upright pins 3| and a cap 32 at the top of the pins, this cap being grooved circumferentially to receive afriction ring 33 (Fig. 4) having an eye 34 therein through which the wire is threaded. Directly above each block 23 there is provided an idler sheave 36 (Figs. 1 and 2) over which the wire passes and thence travels downwardly to the corresponding sheave 28. Each sheave 36 is mounted on an upright web 31 with its upper edge welded or otherwise secured to a plate 38 which extends longitudinally of the frame I5 and above the intermediate blocks 23. This plate is bent to curve upwardly and forwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, with its upper surface convex, and it is supported by columns 39 mounted on the rear portion of the frame, the upper portions of the columns being curved to match the curvature of the plate. While only two of these columns 39 appear in Fig. 1, it will be understood that in a long machine having a considerable number of blocks additional columns will be provided. In such case the plate 38 may be made in a plurality of sections each extending from one column to the next. This transversely curved plate with the upright webs 31 provides a comparatively light beam of great strength and rigidity, so that the sheaves 36 are adequately supported. In order to guide the wire properly on to the sheaves '36, the lower edge of each web 31 is bent laterally to form a ange 4| in which there is mounted a guide bushing 42, these bushings being substantially aligned with the axes of the blocks 23 therebeneath. An upright back plate 43 is mounted on the lower portioi of the columns 39 and extends throughout substantially the entire length of the frame I5.

The blocks 23 and 24 are of hollow construction and they are provided with openings 45 and 46 respectively through which air may be discharged into cooling contact with the wire upon the blocks. The air reaches the interior of the blocks through circular openings 41 formed in the top plate 2| of the casing I5, directly beneath the blocks. The air is supplied to the interior of the casing by means of a fan 48 driven by an electric motor 49. This fan is connected to the left end of the casing, adjacent the bottom thereof, by a substantially horizontal duct 50 which is aligned with the casing.

'Ihe wire-drawing blocks are supported and driven by a mechanism which is completely enclosed so that it may be properly lubricated and protected against dust and dirt. For this purpose a heavy horizontal bar 52 A(Fig. 4) is welded to the rear surface of the front wall I6, somewhat below the top plate 2|. A second heavy horizontal bar 53 is provided behind the bar 52 and on the same level, the rear bar 53 being spaced forwardly from the rear wall |1 and connected thereto by a series of web plates 54. As Shown in Fig. 6, these plates 54 are inclined downwardly toward the air duct 50 to avoid interference with the air flow and to provide a stronger and better braced construction. The two bars 52 and 53 extend throughout substantially the entire length of the casing I5, and they provide a support for a horizontal plate 56 which bridges across between them. This plate 56 is preferably made in spliced sections, with a separate section for each block, as best shown in Fig. 5. Beneath the plate 56 there is provided a plate 51 (Fig. 4) which is curved transversely to form a trough with one edge higher than the other, the cross-section being J-shaped. The lower edge of this trough is located at the front and is welded or otherwise fastened to the front plate I6. The rear wall of the trough is Welded to the bar 53 and to the webs 54. The bottom of the trough is locatedsslightly above the top of the air duct 50. The trough 51 connects at one end (Fig. with the left end wall |8, and it terminates at the other end (Fig. 7). somewhat short of the right end wall I9 to provide space for an oil sump or reservoir 58. The rear wall of this sump is formed by a vertical plate 59 which connects the rear wall of the trough with the wall I9. The left wall of the I sump is formed by a transverse vertical plate 60 which connects the adjacent end of the trough with the bottom plate 20. With this construetion no air from the fan 48 can reach the sump. The end wall I9 of the casing is provided with a removable plug 62 to permit draining of oil from the sump, and with a filler pipe 63 through which oil may be added to the sump.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the plate 56 is provided with a downwardly extending hollow hub 65 beneath each of the intermediate shafts 68 and 12.

blocks 23. This hub may be conveniently made from a heavy tube welded at its upper endto the plate. Within the hub 65 there are mounted upper and lower annular antifriction bearings 66 and 61 respectively which serve to support a vertical shaft 68 having a bevel gear 69 on its lower end. Tle upper end of the shaft 68 is recessed to receive an antifriction bearing 1| which supports the lower end of a vertical shaft 12. The hub 13 of the block 23 is mounted on the upper portion of the shaft 12. This shaft is supported directly beneath the hub 13 by an antifriction bearing 15 which is mounted in the upper portion of a hollow bracket 16, this bracket having an outwardly extending lower flange 11 which is attached to the plate 56.

A releasable clutch is provided to connect the For this purpose a clutch member 19 is slidably keyed to the shaft 12 within the bracket 16, the lower end of this member having teeth thereon for intertting engagement in a well-known manner with similar teeth on the upper end of the shaft 68. 'Ihe clutch member 19 is provided with a peripheral groove 80 which is engaged by a shifter fork 8|, this fork being keyed to a horizontal shaft 82 rotatably supported in the bracket 16. As best shown in Fig. 8, the front end of the shaft 82 projects forwardly through an annular seal 83 and is connected by a sleeve 84 to an aligned shaft 86. The

4 shaft 86 extends forwardly through the front plate I6 and carries on its front end a crank 81 having a hollow handle 88 thereon. Within this handle there is provided a spring-pressed plunger l 90 with a knob 9| on its front end. This plunger is arranged to enter either of two holes 92 in a plate 93 on the front of the casing I5, so that the clutch member 19 may be held in either its engaged position or in its disengaged position as selected.

Referring now to Fig. '7, it will be seen that the plate 56 is provided with a circular opening 95 directly beneath the finishing block 24. Within this opening there is mounted an annular plate 96 having a depending hollow hub 91 which supports an antifriction bearing 98. To the top of the plate 96 there is secured a flanged hollow hub 99 which supports an antifriction bearing |00. A vertical shaft |02 extends through the hubs 91 and 99, and is rotatably supported by the bearings 98 and |00. The finishing block 24 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft |02, and a bevel gear |03 is mounted on the lower end of this shaft.

A common driving means is provided for the bevel gears 69 and |03. For this purpose a horizontal shaft |05 extends longitudinally within the casing I 5, directly beneath the vertical shafts 68 and |02. This shaft |05 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings |06 supported by the trough 51 and the front wall I6. On the shaft |05 there are mounted a series of bevel gears |01 which mesh with the gears 69 and |03 to drive the same, the speed ratios of successive pairs of gears being such as to provide increased speeds for successive blocks. A gear |09 (Fig. 5) is mounted on the shaft |05 near the end thereof adjacent the wall I8, and this gear is driven by a pinion I0 carried by a shaft located behind the shaft |05 and somewhat above the same. The shaft I is rotatably supported in bearings 2, and it extends through the end wall I8 to connect with the shaft ||4 (Fig. 2) of an electric motor H5. This motor is mounted on the top of the air duct 50.

In order to permit access to the bevel gears for inspection or adjustment, an opening 1 (Fig. 4)

is provided in the wall i8 directly in iront of each pair of bevel gears, each opening being closed by a. removable plate iid. Access may be had tc the air chamber portion of the casing l through an opening lat in the rear wall il, this opening being closed by a removable plate |2i.

Provision is made for lubricating the various gears and bearings. For this purpose a longitudinally extending pipe |23 is mounted beneath the main shaft |05 and supported by suitable straps i24 carried by the bearings l06. The right end of this pipe is connected by a pipe |25 (Fig. "1) to a pump |25 which is mounted on the plate 59. This pump is driven from the shaft |05 through' suitablegearing i28. A suction pipe |294extends downwardly from the pump into the oil sump 5.8, the lower end of this pipe having al screen |30 thereon. A tube |32 leads from the pump discharge pipe |25 to a pressure gauge |33mounted on the adjacent end wall |9 of the casing I5. The left end of the pipe |23 connects with a pressure relief valve |34 (Fig. 5) arranged to discharge excess oil into the trough 51. Orices |36 are provided in the top of thepipe |23, beneath the gear |09 and each of the bevel gears |01, so that jets of oil will be projected upwardlyv on to these gears. Tubes |38 lead upwardly from the pipe |23 to discharge oil 'into the upper portions of the brackets 16 and of the hub 99 to lubricate the bearings 15, 1|, 66, 61, 98 and |00. Each of these tubes is made in two sections connected by a bulkhead fitting |39 which extends through the plate 56.

For the protection of the operator, a horizontal safety bar |4| is mounted at the front of the casing |5, and a horizontal safety 'bar |42 is mounted at the right end of the casing.V These bars are mechanically connected to suitable limit switches |43 and |44 (Fig. 3) respectively. These limit switches are connected in the circuit of the main drive motor ||5 in known manner, so that upon movement of either of the bars |4| or |42 inwardly toward the machine, the motor ||5 will be stopped.

The operation of the invention will now be apparent from the above disclosure. The main motor ||5 will drive the shaft and the gear ||0, which will drive the gear |09 and the shaft |05 with the bevel gears |01 thereon. The gears |01 will drive the gears 69 and |03. With the clutches 19 engaged, each gear 69 will drive the corresponding shafts B0 and 12, and the corresponding intermediate block 23. The gear |03 will drive theshaft |02 and the finishing block 24. The first block 23 will draw wire through the die in the die box 25 to provide an accumulation of wire about the block pins 3|. From this accumulation the wire will travel upwardly through the eye 34 in the friction ring 33 at the top of the block, thence upwardly through the guide 42 thereabove, around the corresponding sheave 36, and then downwardly to the sheave 28 therebeneath, which will direct the wire to the die in the adjacent die box 26. The wire will continue on a similar course through the entire machine until it reaches the iinishing block 24,l where the finished wire will be coiled upon the pins 29. The machine will be stopped occasionally and a bundle of finished wirewill be removed. The speeds of the successive blocks will be so related to the sizesof the successive diesvthat wire will continue to accumulate slowly on the pins 3| of each intermediate block 23. To reduce the size of the accumulation on a given block the operator need merely stop the rotation ofv that particular block and ci all the blocks anterior thereto in the series, by disengaging the corresponding clutches lll through the medium of the handles 0d. The main motor l i5 is preferably stopped whenever the clutches are operated. When certain of the blocks are stopped, the rst rotating block in the series will withdraw wire from the block immediately anterior thereto, the corresponding ring 33 revolving backward in known manner during such withdrawal. The fan 48 will supply air through the duct 50 to the interior of the casing i5, and this air will flow along the casing and upwardly past the angular 2| and into the blocks, and thence outwardly through the block openings 45 and 46 into cooling` contact with the wire on the blocks.

The, sump 58 and the trough 51 will be filled with oil to approximately the level of the center of thepipe |23. The pump |26 will be driven from the shaft |05 through the gearing |28, thereby drawing oil upwardly through the screen |30 and the pipe |29, the oil being delivered under pressure through the pipe |25 to the pipe |23. The oill pressure will be indicated by the gauge |33, and any excess oil will be discharged through the relief valve |34 into the trough 51. Oil will be discharged upwardly in jets from the orifices |36 to lubricate the various gears, and oil will ow'upwardly through the tubes |38 to lubricate the bearings for the shafts 68, 12 and |02. The

` shaft bearings |06 and 2, and the gearing |28 will be lubricated by the oil mist with which the entire oil compartment will be filled by reason of the oil sprays upon various rapidly revolving parts. The oil compartment is completely enclosed and protected from dust and dirt. The oil will return to the-trough 51 and flow along this trough back to the sump 58. The lower surface of the trough is fully exposed to the current of air flowing through the casing, and as a result the trough and the oil therein will be eifectively cooled.

The curved plate 38 and the upright webs 31 form a light and inexpensive yet strong and rigid beam which supports the sheaves 36 in a proper manner. Since the air duct 50 is aligned with the casing I5, and the main motor ||5 is positioned above the air duct, the machine is well adapted for installation parallel with other similar machines. Such an arrangement will be economical of floor space, and the aisles between the machines will be unobstructed. Since the main motor |I5 and the fan motor 49 are located at the same end of the machine, the electrical wiring will be simplified.

Havingthus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An apparatus for use in a wire-drawing machine of the type having a horizontally elongated frame and a series of blocks arranged along the top of the frame and rotatable about vertical axes, the said apparatus comprising a plurality of upright columns, a transversely curved plate supported by the columns with its upper surface convex, spaced upright webs secured to the lower surface of the plate, and wire-guiding idler sheaves mounted on the said webs and adapted to receive wire as it travels upwardly from the blocks.

2. A supporting and driving mechanism for a vrotatable wire-drawing block, the said mecha- :ally spaced annular bearings mounted within the hub, a vertical drive shaft rotatably supported by the bearings and having a recess in its upper end, a hollow bracket secured to the plate above the hub, a vertical block shaft extending upwardly through the bracket, an annular bearing for the lower end of the block shaft mounted within the said recess, an annular bearing for the intermediate portion of the block shaft mounted in the bracket, a clutch member slidably and non-rotatably mounted on the block shaft immediately above the drive shaft, the lower end of the clutch member and the upper end of the drive shaft having interengaging parts, and manually operable means to slide the clutch member upwardly along the block shaft and thereby sepa.. rate the said parts.

3. A horizontally elongated frame for a wiref drawing machine of the type having a horizontal row of hollow blocks rotatable about vertical axes and provided with apertures for the discharge of air into contact with wire wound about the blocks, the said frame comprising an upright front wall, an upright rear wall, a generally horizont-al bottom wall, a generally horizontal top wall having a series of openings therein adapted to deliver air to blocks thereabove, two upright end walls one of which has an opening therein immediately above the bottom wall for the admission of air, and walls forming a horizontally elongated compartment adapted to enclose driving mechanism for the blocks, the compartment being spaced an appreciable distance downwardly from the top wall, forwardly from the rear wall and upwardly from the bottom wall, the said front wall forming the front wall of the compartment, and the construction 'being such that air introduced through the air admission opening will ilow longitudinally beneath'the compartment and upwardly between the compartment and the rear wall to the openings in the top wall.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which the rear wall is connected to the rear wall of the compartment by a series of plates which are spaced from one another to allow air to flow upwardly between them.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, in which the plates are inclined downwardly toward the air admission opening.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which the rear wall of the compartment and the bottom wall thereof are formed by a plate of substantially J-shape in cross-section.

'1. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which an oil reservoir is provided below the compartment and in communication with the end thereof opposite the air admission opening.

8. Apparatus as setforth in claim 3, in which a horizontal air duct is connected to the air admission opening, and a. motor for the actuation of the driving mechanism is mounted above the air duct.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which the upper wall of the compartment is formed by a substantially horizontal plate which is sup ported at its front and rear edges respectively by two parallel horizontal bars, one bar being secured to'the front wall and the other bar being spaced forwardly from the rear wall and connected thereto by supporting means.

WELD MORGAN. CLARKE D. WESSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,491,064 Ralston Apr. 22, 1924 1,683,482 Phifer Sept. 4, 1928 1,914,833 Nacken June 20, 1933 2,185,416 Morgan Jan. 2, 1940 2,358,088 Lange Sept. 12, 1944 2,368,153 Mog et al Jan. 30, 1945 2,391,957 Fenner Jan. 1, 1946 

